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MEDNSF Forum 2024 Survey

The Middle East DNS Forum (MEDNSF) is an annual event organized by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) that focuses on issues related to the Domain Name System (DNS) in the Middle East region.

The forum brings together stakeholders from the Internet community, including registries, registrars, Internet service providers, policy makers, and government representatives, to discuss topics such as DNS security, the adoption of new technologies, policy development, and the challenges and opportunities facing the DNS industry in the region.

The 10th edition of the MEDNSF was organized in Rabat, Morocco, on 24-25 April 2024 in a hybrid format. The event attracted 327 unique attendees (excluding interpreters and support staff).

On 6 May 2024, ICANN circulated a short survey to solicit the community’s feedback on the 10th edition of the MEDNSF. The survey remained open until 27 May 2024. Out of 35 respondents in total, 23 respondents completed the survey. Ten respondents were from the countries in the Middle East region including Morocco, Iraq, Lebanon and Pakistan. Nine respondents were from African countries, i.e., Ghana, Benin, Chad and Burkina Faso.

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Respondent Profile and Background

The survey was distributed to the 294 participants who attended the Forum and those who agreed to receive further communications from ICANN. The survey included 14 questions with two sections: optional and mandatory. While optional questions were about the personal information, the mandatory section included 11 multiple and open text questions rating the general satisfaction over all aspects of the forum. The survey can be found in Appendix A.

Thirty-five percent of the respondents had attended one or more previous editions of the MEDNSF, while the remaining 65% were first-time attendees. Sixty-five percent of the respondents attended the event in person, while 26% attended virtually. The remaining 9% experienced both in-person and virtual attendance. Additionally, 57% of respondents attended most or all of the sessions.

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Satisfaction with the Agenda

The agenda for the 2024 MEDNSF included a mix of technical, business, legal, and security topics. Almost all respondents, 96%, were either satisfied or very satisfied with the content of the agenda. None of the respondents were dissatisfied.

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Satisfaction with Format and Duration of the Sessions

● All respondents, 100%, were either satisfied or very satisfied with the variety of formats, including a combination of presentations, panel discussions, and tech talks. None of the respondents were dissatisfied.

● The majority of respondents, 91%, were either satisfied or very satisfied with the duration of the sessions. The remaining 9% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.

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The Experience of In-Person and Remote Participants

Respondents were asked whether they believed the remote participants received the same experience as those who attended in person.

Seventeen percent of the respondents believed that the remote participants received the same experience as those who attended in person, while 26% of them did not. The remaining 57% were not sure about the experience of remote participants.

Given that the high rate of “unsure” responses regarding the experience of remote participants was higher than in previous years, we might consider remote participation as an area for improvement.

Respondents were also asked to elaborate on their response to the question on remote participation experience. The overall sentiment of their inputs remained neutral.

The 2024 MEDNSF survey responses highlighted several aspects of remote participation. Participants noted that engagement levels largely depended on individual interest and enthusiasm for the subject matter.

Ensuring an equally enjoyable experience for both virtual and in-person attendees remains a consistent challenge. To enhance the experience for virtual attendees, a suggestion was made to utilize more efficient communication tools. Many responses indicated a preference for, and greater appreciation of, in-person participation, emphasizing the unique benefits of being physically present. Additionally, one respondent pointed out occasional temporary gaps in simultaneous translation, suggesting an area for potential improvement.

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The respondents were asked about their level of satisfaction with the new design of the website. The majority of respondents, 87%, were either satisfied or very satisfied with the Middle East DNS Forum website, while the remaining 13% were neutral, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.

Twenty-three survey respondents offered additional comments regarding the website design. For instance, some participants suggested making the website more user-friendly by incorporating a help desk to assist users effectively.

There was notable dissatisfaction with the type of font used in the testimonial section, indicating a need for improved readability and aesthetic appeal. Additionally, respondents recommended reevaluating the structure and format of the panel sessions to ensure there is adequate time allocated for effective Q&A sessions, enhancing audience engagement and interaction.

Do you have any suggestions to improve future Middle East DNS Forums?

Survey participants were also asked to provide suggestions on how to improve future versions of the MEDNSF. The responses provided several insightful suggestions for potential improvements to future forums. Participants recommended increasing the number of speakers to diversify perspectives and enrich the agenda. Enhancing communication frequency and employing better communication tools for remote participants were also highlighted as critical areas for improvement. Respondents expressed a desire for open forum sessions to facilitate discussions on DNS-related topics and requested more in-depth sessions on technical subjects. Additionally, there was a strong emphasis on adhering strictly to the program schedule to ensure activities start and end on time, thereby avoiding delays and maintaining the forum's overall efficiency and effectiveness.